8Point Video Conferencing
Robin G. Smith introduced a suite of applications that allow two or more workstations to communicate face-to-face with audio and video, or create and e-mail a multi-media file for later playback, optimized for low bandwidth channels. The technology, originally developed for NASA and high-resolution satellite imagery transmission, 8Point Communications has acquired this technology for small office - home office conferencing.

Not only can you take advantage of video conferencing, so that you can talk to someone over the Internet with a camera and headset - see them in real-time, you can also use digital video or images and compress the media file to such a small size that they are e-mailable.

When you get the package, it includes three distinct programs. A brand new program called Multi-View allows three people to be video-conferencing at the same time. The View Mail program captures both the camera image and compresses it into an e-mailable file or a video file on the hard drive. Face-to-Face is the one-on-one video conferencing program.

Face-to-Face allows a user with a USB video camera (or web cam) and head-set to talk in real-time to another computer. The video is amazingly clear. The selling point of Face-to-Face is that it is Peer-to-Peer so it is all private. Using other conferencing applications, such as that service offered by Yahoo, is through a central server and is not inherently private.

Microsoft's NetMeeting and Apple's QuickTime use "discreet cosine transformation" to compress the video. DCT compression breaks each frame of video into tiny blocks then compressions the information in each one. This process requires a lot of computer time and creates larger files than the 8Point process. 8Point products use wavelet compression. Wavelet compression analyses the entire frame in one pass and creates a mathematical algorithm the describes the video image. This mathematical description of the image is much smaller than the compressed DCT image and requires less computer power.

The wavelet technology was developed for the Department of Defense. They use it for satellite transmissions of extremely fine detailed imagery. The problem with all video is that the amount of data to be transmitted is huge. Satellite transmissions have relatively low bandwidth. Wavelet technology permits manageable filesize and time expenditures. The video compression ratio is 400:1. 8Point technology also adapts itself to the detected bandwidth.

Users can still use NetMeeting (and its white board feature) as the 8Point product is compatible. Face-to-Face adheres to the H.323 video conferencing standard so it will connect to and work with other products, but must scale-back its compression engine to match the capabilities of the other products. Face-to-Face can also use Microsoft's T.120 conference support technology if both parties have the codec installed. This is the whiteboard, text messaging, and desktop remote control protocol.

ViewMail can take either of two approaches: the video conferencing is live or pre-recorded. The ViewMail product allows you to record over the USB camera or to compress an already existing video file to a filesize that can be e-mailed. Once the video file has been compressed, the ViewMail product can create an executable and attach it to an outgoing e-mail. ViewMail can also send the file to 8Point's servers so that if your recipient cannot receive an executable attachment, the e-mail can state the URL where your recipient can manually download or view the streaming video.

Filesize compression can take a 33MByte video and compress it to 500KBytes. Suggested system requirements are a Pentium/366, 128MB RAM, Windows 98/Me/2000/XP, any USB WebCam and headset, an Internet connection of at least 56K.

These products are only available through independent representatives, and only over the Internet. The products are subscription based: $150 initially and then $30 per month after that.

Contact Robin G. Smith or visit her 8Point Web site.

Microsoft
Tom Roberts, an Independent Rep for Microsoft, showed Tablet PC's, Digital Imaging Pro, and a Pocket PC.

The Tablet PC was introduced into the world about two weeks ago, it's a very lightweight machine, the screen is on a rotatable hinge and when folded back together, becomes a thin screen-based tablet where the user enters information using a stylus.

When we talk about the Tablet PC, were talking about functionality, of course. We have some new usage scenarios which you will find very interesting if you are still in industry, especially the note-taking, the document annotation, and you can do fairly immersive online reading. It is being described as the most mobile PC ever.

The unit being demonstrated tonight is the Acer unit. Toshiba, ViewSonic, and Fujitsu also have units. The systems come with a version of Windows XP specifically adapted for the tablet PC and comes with an array of applications of the entertainment type. There is live TV control, personal video recording, a programming guide, create your own music and video through the media center.

The display can be carried about the room communicating with the base unit.

Businessmen will enjoy the ability to take quick notes went into meeting and there are several things one can do with "journaling." One obvious task is to take handwritten notes. A stylus acts as a marker and as an eraser. With the lasso tool, one can convert selected handwritten text into editable text and have that text pasted into an Outlook contact or e-mail, or a word processing document.

Another feature is the ability to quickly record a short audio segment and have it filed conveniently for later playback. Sticky-notes can be applied to almost any object for further annotation.

Another convenience of the Tablet PC is Snip-It!. With Snip-It!, one can immediately select handwritten text, an image, and/or area of the screen and dump the original image into an e-mail-the recipient sees the annotated screen image exactly as the sender made it.

A complementary product included with the Tablet PC edition of WinXP is the Franklin-Covey Day Planner. Tom ran through the calendaring function displaying several notes made on several days.

Tom then brought up Microsoft's Digital Image Pro. Specifically, he demonstrated functions that clean and adjust photographs, all automatically. Digital Image Pro comes with multi-media training videos, explaining what various imaging processes are and how they work. As the videos play out, the user can make simultaneous adjustments to the image being edited.

Compared to Picture It! from a few versions back, Tom says he really likes how the user interface is much more intuitive and well-organized. All the standard features and tool sets are available.

A specific problem with a lot of applications is a limited number of undo steps. Tom explained that Digital Image Pro works under a slightly different process. He made some fixes to an image and when he was satisfied, he clicked "Done." Essentially, he explained that after each major edit, the user should save the work in progress under a unique filename. [Yes, I know that's not really a good answer. -Ed.]

Digital Image Pro comes with thousands of templates giving you a start on projects you can do. Even so, the program allows you to create your own artwork such as greeting cards, personalized quotes ready to transfer to coffee mugs, and elaborate certificates and awards.

The Pocket PC was the next product Tom demonstrated. Obviously, owners of Pocket PC's do not use these devices the same as desktop computers. Therefore, the need to synchronize data between the two is very important. The model demonstrated required the use of a USB cable. Other models will probably just instantly beam the data when in range of the Tablet PC. The synchronization is simply a one-click affair.